fc?8 TRAVELS THROUGH 



lead refemblance of fiich confummate pru- 

 dence. I lived, for feme time, upon a very 

 intimate footing with men. of the greatefl 

 confequence, and was much better known 

 to Dukes, Marshals of France, Archbi- 

 fhops, Governors of Provinces, and even 

 Miniftcfs of State, than to young men in 

 the army cf my own rank. In this career 

 I fpent my time fo agreeably, converfed 

 with fo much eafe, had connections with 

 fo many men of talents, and, in a word, 

 lived with fo much dignity, and fo little in 

 the way of vicious pleafure, that I little at- 

 tended to the ruin which was filently 

 coming on me. Though I was not extra- 

 vagant, yet the mere common expences of 

 drefs, neceflary for the company I kept, was 

 much too great for my finances ; and I pre- 

 fently found the end of my 2ocol. Upon 

 feeing this profpedl: nt no great diftance, I, 

 for the firft time, fat down feriouily to my 

 accounts j I fent for all my bills, paid 

 them, and found myfelf with a remainder 

 too fmall to yield either hope or comfort. 



" There was always fortieth ing executive 

 in my difpofition. 1 never in my life con- 

 fidered long what to do, but always took 



my 



